Sheldon Keefe reveals why he decided to stay with Justin Holl and leave Liljegren in the press box
Following a blowout loss in Game 4 in Tampa, there was a lot of speculation as to whether or not Justin Holl would be back in the press box for Game 5. However, when the Leafs took to the ice for the morning skate on Tuesday, Holl was skating in the same spot, alongside veteran Mark Giordano on the team's third pair.
Many had expected rookie defenseman Timothy Liljegren to draw back into the lineup on Tuesday, but it appears as though Liljegren will be in the press box for a third straight game after Keefe noticed that his inexperience was being exploited by the Bolts.
Following the morning skate, Keefe revealed that he had taken some time to review the game tape from Game 4, watching the game three times and viewed Holl's play as strong. Keefe felt as though Holl drove play on the third pair, and his impact on the PK was obvious, with the Bolts going just 1-for-8 with the man advantage.
Time will tell whether the decision was a good one, but if the Leafs can't find a way to play more disciplined and stay out of the penalty box, they may need Holl more than the fanbase might care to admit.
| POLL | ||
MAI 10 | 406 ANSWERS Sheldon Keefe reveals why he decided to stay with Justin Holl and leave Liljegren in the press box If the Leafs make it past Tampa and to the second round, will Justin Holl remain in the lineup the rest of the way? | ||
| Yes | 118 | 29.1 % |
| No | 48 | 11.8 % |
| He'll be in and out | 173 | 42.6 % |
| Don't care, just win | 67 | 16.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
